Monday, 10 August 2009

How-To: Install APT Support for Iceweasel in Debian

aptlinex is a package included in Debian Lenny repositories which will allow browsers like Konqueror or Firefox (Iceweasel in Debian) to install DEB packages only by clicking them in the web browser. With aptlinex, all the links starting with apt:// will automatically download that respective package and perform the installation on your Debian system.

To set this up, first install the aptlinex package as root:

suapt-get install aptlinex

Next, open Iceweasel and type about:config in the location bar. Click the I'll be careful, I promise! button and create the following four entries by right-clicking anywhere in the window:

These two should be created as New -> String values:

network.protocol-handler.app.apt and enter the value /usr/bin/gambas-apt.gambasnetwork.protocol-handler.app.apt+http and enter the value /usr/bin/gambas-apt.gambas

Here is how the entries above should look like:

The following two should be boolean values (can take either values of either true or false):

network.protocol-handler.warn-external.apt and enter the value truenetwork.protocol-handler.warn-external.apt+http and enter the value true

Here is how the two entries above should look like:

Next, you will need to click on a link which starts with apt:// and select the default application to open these links.

The first time you click on an apt:// link, you will be prompt with this window:

Choose the /usr/bin/gambas-apt.gambas application to open these links

Finally, provide the root password in order to start installing the DEB package